Deadbeat Designs

Technique for the Cheap and Easy

Hold on to your wigs and keys! I'm about to post a technique! Is there a full moon tonight?

This really is cheap and easy - just like me! You'll need watercolor paper for the best results but regular card stock will work to a point. The good thing about watercolor paper is that you can get it really wet and it will still be workable. So first, spray a piece with water - enough so you can see it but not so much that it's dripping all over you... unless you're into that sort of thing. Drag a dye-based pad across a couple of times - here I used Memento Summer Sky.

Next, take a darker pad and sort of zig zag it across using just the edge. I think this is what 'artists' call 'movement' - I call it 'zig zagging the edge of a pad across wet watercolor paper'. Just keepin' it real!

Then, for some more solid areas, lightly pat a darker color off the edge of the paper. Test how new or juicy your pad is before diving into your project - a dryer pad needs a little more pressure.

I wanted a little more color in the background so I lightly dragged the brown across the whole piece. You can see in the bottom right where there were some droplets which intensified the color. You can't really plan that but it's nice when it happens.

I dragged around the edges with black - perhaps an unnecessary step but if it makes you happy, go for it.

Then, for some reason, I sprayed some copper Glimmer Mist over the whole thing. You can't really see it unless you look closely so I'm not sure it's worth it. Maybe a darker spray would have been better... or it might have screwed the whole thing up. We'll never know.

Then stamp some images with your wonderful Deadbeat Designs stamps. I'm pretty sure this will only work with Deadbeat Designs stamps - feel free to try some other brands but don't blame me if they ruin your project!

Wrap some ribbon or twine around, layer something pertinent on top and your done! I went around some of the edges with deckle scissors which are indispensable when cutting straight is an issue, like if you're enjoying a cocktail while you stamp.

Here's another version. I stamped the images in purple instead of black which is a little softer. While you're making a mess, you might as well make several cards. Actually, you could do an entire piece of 8.5" X 11" piece and just cut it up as you need it. Then when you need a quick birthday or thank you or when someone drops dead, you're ready.

Unless it's you that's dropping dead and I guess no one's ever ready for that. So get busy! This may be the last card you ever make!

That took a grim turn, didn't it? See what techniques do to me?

It's All Good

Somehow the days have gotten away from me once again. But I've been busier than a one legged man at a butt-kickin' contest trying to get all the stamps made for the upcoming Deadbeat Road Trip in a few weeks. There was a point when I was knee-deep in rubber stamps that I actually sort of fantasized about having an employee. Of course, the control freak in me quickly pushed that thought right our of my crazy head. Although it would be nice to have someone to blame when I screw up an order!

So it was a pleasant surprise when I discovered a package in the mailbox from my friend Candy. She has a knack of finding perfectly weird gifts - at least perfect for me. Some people have those god-awful Thomas Kinkade "paintings" hanging on their walls or some other crappy make believe "art" but I prefer something a little more interesting and original.

And I can't wait to make "It's all good" into a stamp.

Candy has found several funky treasures, so many that if I ever have a fire, I'll be hard-pressed to know what to save first. This is from the same artist and hangs in my kitchen.

I know - not much of a post. But today I'll be at Stamp Salado all damn day so maybe I'll be inspired to make something. That is, unless I have to spend too much time dealing with those annoying customers. Not any of you, of course.

Relax Already

The countdown has begun for the big Deadbeat Road Trip.

Crap.

I've got less than a month to get all the stamps made. If every store's classes fill - and it looks like they will - Lynn and I will be entertaining over 150 lucky people and with about 10 new images, I've got a load of stamps to make.

Oh, and I have regular orders to deal with as well. If you're a store and waiting on an order, it's coming. And if you're thinking of making a big order, better do it quick because I'm about to get busy.

Crap.

But I've consulted with my boss who recommends more naps. 

Seems to work for him.

Yep... my life is a livin' hell.

Eat Chocolate Challenge

That title is a little misleading. I am not challenging anyone to a chocolate 'eat off' for many reasons, mainly because I would lose but also because eating contests are disgusting. Did you know that there is a governing body that oversees competitive eating? It's true and yet another sign that we're going to hell in a hand basket, as my grandmother would say. But that's not why you called....

 

Here's my card for the Catered Crop "Follow The Recipe" Party. Remarkably I somehow managed my time well enough to participate - ok that's a total lie. It was a complete accident. Nevertheless, it's done. You'll see I didn't stray too far from the original. I decided to focus on the layout and colors which made it easier not to get distracted. This probably happens to a lot of you but I'll get started on a project and once I get just about knee-deep, I'll have a new "great" idea which usually means more time and trouble. Sometimes it's worth it, but sometimes it takes twice as long as it should and goes nowhere. Then again, too much focus kills the fun! Anyway, be sure and check out the other cards on the Catered Crop blog. And there's still time to create one of your own for a chance at a Deadbeat Designs gift certificate!

Ingredients:

Colors - Red, White, Black

Stamps - Deadbeat Designs Chocolate Stamps

Tools - Nestabilities Lacy Circles

Cutting around that dang chocolate kiss took forever so I didn't have time to do anything for the inside. Ok, that's also a lie. It DID take a long time and even required my reading glasses but I just didn't have anything to add for the inside so it's just a front. Not an affront.

If you want to be affronted, watch an eating contest. They're broadcast on ESPN. Yeah. I'm serious.

Hand basket.

Hell.

Or check THIS out.

Holy crap. So glad I didn't install a garbage disposal.

Up For A Challenge?

I'm sure many of you are familiar with Linda's Catered Crop, right? Well this week's Follow-The-Recipe-Party is sponsored by Deadbeat Designs! Check it out - use any of the ingredients (themes, colors, techniques, shapes, etc.) from last week's winning card to make your project. Submit a card and you might win a Deadbeat Designs gift certificate! I may even give it a try this week if I can keep all my dang ducks in a row.

That includes trimming a whole lotta rubba! Ah, yes.... my glamorous life!

Good Intentions

Well, the road to hell, good intentions and all that nonsense.... I've been stamping all damn day but don't have anything to post! I've been busy with all the new stamps but I'm keeping them under wraps until the classes in August so you'll just have to wait. But they are pretty fun if I do say so myself! So because I'm all stamped out, I'm showing one of Tina's cards from her blog. Just up and stole it. Dragged it onto my desktop and copied into this post like I had permission. I doubt I'll be getting a letter from Tina's attorney and if I did, I'd just post it here and make fun of it!

Anyway, great job, Tina, and thanks for mentioning our Dallas class - which is really in Irving, but up there who knows where one city starts and another begins! Anyway, if you live in one of the many cities, towns or villages around the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, we'd love to see you at Googly Eyes! There are still some spaces left although Stamp Salado and Scrapbook 'N' More have just about filled up! And no, I'm still not ready to show a sample of what we'll be doing! I'm also not going to show you the brand new free stamp that everyone who takes the class will get. But I think you'll have a good time. Maybe not as good as the folks in this video but...

 

Meanwhile, back at the Deadbeat Designs website, the "f" for Facebook button works now so it should be clickable if you are so inclined. Also, I've added more pics to the gallery and linked them to images - just click on the camera and it will take you to a sample using that stamp.

I paid extra for that.

But it was worth it. Anything I can do to make your Deadbeat Designs experience more enjoyable! I'm always thinking of YOU!

And by "YOU" I mean "ME".

Now if I could just figure out how to get the blog to post onto the Facebook deal. It happened once, but it must have sensed my lack of 'fb' enthusiasm because it sure doesn't work now. Oh well....

In addition to Tina, you can see a lot of other cool ideas at Splitcoaststampers.com - just go to the gallery and do a search for "deadbeat" and you'll see what other people (with extremely good taste) do with Deadbeat Designs stamps.

Like HERE and HERE and HERE....